Retainer for electrical attachment plugs



Nov. 10, 1953 K. M. JOHNSON RETAINER FOR ELECTRICAL ATTACHMENT PLUGS Filed Oct. 20, 1952 Fig. 2

Fig) 4 Kennel/1 M. Johnson INVENTOR.

Patented Nov. 10, 1953 UNITED STATES- PATENT OFFICE.

RETAINER FOR ELECTRICAL ATTACHMENT PLUGS Kenneth M. Johnson, Ashland, Ky. Application October 20, 1952, Serial No. 315,663

1 Claim. 1

This invention relates to a device for holding electrical attachment plugs within the outlet receptacle. A particular object of this invention is to provide a plug receptacle of the kind to be henceforth described that has means for adjustment so as to enable the use of this device with various sizes and kinds of plugs, and which has means for permitting the removal of the plug without removing the device from against the face plate of an outlet receptacle.

Still further objects of the invention reside in the provision of a plug retainer that is strong, durable, capable of being molded, extruded, or pressed out of a variety of plastic material, yet which may be readily made from metal, and which is very inexpensive to manufacture.

These, together with the various ancillary objects of the invention which will become apparent as the following description proceeds, are obtained by this plug retainer, a preferred embodiment of which has been illustrated in the accompanying drawings, by way of example only, wherein:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of the plug retainer shown holding an electrical attachment plug in operative position, with parts of the plug retainer being broken away to show other elements in greater detail;

Figure 2 is a front elevational view showing the invention in its operating position;

Figure 3 is an enlarged vertical sectional view as taken along the plane of line 3-3 in Figure 2; and

Figure 4 is a vertical sectional view as taken along the plane of line 44 in Figure 3 and showing in detail the construction of the means for adjustably securing the elements of the device together.

With continuing reference to the accompanying drawings wherein like reference numerals designate similar parts throughout the various views, reference numeral I is used to generally designate the face plate of a wall receptacle such as used in conjunction with the wiring system of a house or ofiice building. The wall receptacle may be readily of the double or duplex type and the face plate It is shown in the drawings as being of the type used in conjunction with such duplex outlets. The face plate I0 is secured to the other elements of the outlet by means of a securing screw l2.

The plug retainer includes a supporting member M which has an upwardly extending flanged portion l6 having an aperture therethrough for reception of the screw [2. The supporting plate I4 is further provided with a pair of tongues I8 and 20 which are substantially parallel and spaced from each other. A base 22 is provided on the upper portion of the supporting member M for re-enforcing the supporting member Where the slot 24 is formed.

A retaining member 26 which has spaced parallel grooves 28 and 30 therein is slidably adjustably secured by means of bolt 32 and nut 34 to the supporting plate M. The tongues l8 and 20 are received within the grooves 28 and 30, respectively. A raised portion 36 is provided for a counter-seat for the bolt 34 while re-enforcing the retaining member 26. The head of the bolt 32 is preferably slotted so that the retaining member 26 may be adjusted. The retaining member 26 is provided with bifurcated arcuate legs 38 and 40 which are semi-circular in shape and adapted to embrace the wall plug.

In order to install the device on a receptacle outlet, it is merely necessary to remove the screw l2 which secures the face plate to the outlet. Then, the plug retainer is positioned with the aperture in the flange H5 in alignment with the I aperture in the face plate ID. The screw is then inserted and tightened. This will hold the plug retainer in position. The screw 32 is loosened and the retaining member 25 is withdrawn to its outermost extremity. Then the plug may be inserted. The retaining member 26 is then slid back along the tracks formed by the tongues l8 and 20 within the grooves 28 and 30 until it is securely engaged with the plug. The bolt 32 is then tightened to hold the retaining member in position. Hence, this device provides means to apply a resistance to prevent the withdrawal of the plug by accident.

Since from the foregoing the constructional advantages of this receptacle plug are readily apparent, further description is not believed necessary.

However, since numerous modifications will readily occur to those skilled in the art after a consideration of the foregoing specification and accompanying drawings, it is not intended to limit the invention to the precise embodiment shown and described, but all suitable modifications may be readil resorted to within the scope of the appended claim.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

A plug retainer adapted to be secured against the face plate of a receptacle outlet comprising an angularly upwardly extending support member having a vertically extending flange at one end thereof, an aperture through said flange through which a securing screw of a face plate is adapted to extend, a pair of spaced tongues on said support member, an elongated slot in said support member between said tongues and extending parallel to said tongues, a retaining member having arcuate bifurcated jaws, a pair of spaced grooves in said retaining member, said tongues being slidably received in said grooves, and a fastener extending through said slot securing said retaining member to said support member in an adjustable relationship of said retaining member relative to said support member.

KENNETH m'JonnsoN.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date Thomas June 2, 1931 Raabe Feb. 5, 1935 Lachance May 7, 1946 Getzoff July 3, 1951 Dalton Sept. 25, 1951 

